Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier was an American actor who is best known for his roles in films like “Lilies of the Field,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” and “To Sir, with Love.” He was born on February 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida, but he grew up in the Bahamas. Poitier is recognized as a trailblazer for African American actors in Hollywood.

Personal and Family Life

Sidney Poitier was born to Evelyn and Reginald James Poitier and had a humble upbringing in a farming family. He married Juanita Poitier in 1950 and had four children before their divorce in 1965. Later, he married Joanna Shimkus in 1976, with whom he had two children. Poitier had a total of six daughters.

Career Highlights

Poitier faced many challenges on his path to success, including racism and lack of opportunities for Black actors. His big break came with the film “No Way Out” in 1950, and he went on to star in many important films. Not only did he act, but he also directed and produced several movies, becoming a prominent figure in the film industry and the Civil Rights movement.

Death and Legacy

Sidney Poitier passed away on January 6, 2022, in Los Angeles, California, due to heart failure, dementia, and prostate cancer. His contributions to film and society have left a lasting legacy, inspiring many upcoming actors and promoting racial equality in Hollywood.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Duel at Diablo 1966-06-15 Toller
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner 1967-12-11 John Prentice
Porgy and Bess 1959-06-24 Porgy
Sneakers 1992-09-09 Crease
The Greatest Story Ever Told 1965-04-09 Simon of Cyrene
In the Heat of the Night 1967-08-02 Virgil Tibbs
The Jackal 1997-11-14 Carter Preston
The Defiant Ones 1958-08-14 Noah Cullen
The Wilby Conspiracy 1975-02-01 Shack Twala
To Sir, with Love 1967-06-14 Mark Thackeray
Little Nikita 1988-03-17 Roy Parmenter
Blackboard Jungle 1955-03-25 Gregory W. Miller
A Patch of Blue 1965-12-10 Gordon Ralfe
Shoot to Kill 1988-02-12 Warren Stantin
Buck and the Preacher 1972-03-17 Buck
Paris Blues 1961-09-27 Eddie Cook
Pressure Point 1962-10-10 Doctor
They Call Me Mister Tibbs! 1970-07-10 Virgil Tibbs
No Way Out 1950-08-16 Dr. Luther Brooks
Edge of the City 1957-01-04 Tommy Tyler
Uptown Saturday Night 1974-07-26 Steve Jackson
Let’s Do It Again 1975-10-11 Clyde Williams
A Raisin in the Sun 1961-05-28 Walter Lee Younger
A Piece of the Action 1977-10-07 Manny Durrell
Band of Angels 1957-08-03 Rau-Ru
The Long Ships 1964-04-22 Aly Mansuh
Lilies of the Field 1963-06-04 Homer Smith
The Bedford Incident 1965-10-11 Ben Munceford
Something of Value 1957-05-08 Kimani Wa Karanja
A Warm December 1973-05-23 Dr. Matt Younger
The Slender Thread 1965-12-15 Alan Newell
For Love of Ivy 1968-07-17 Jack Parks
Sing Your Song 2012-01-13 Self
The Mark of the Hawk 1957-12-01 Obam
The Organization 1971-10-20 Virgil Tibbs
The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn 1999-05-09 Noah Dearborn
David and Lisa 1998-11-01 Dr. Jack Miller
To Sir, with Love II 1996-04-07 Mark Thackeray
Brother John 1971-08-15 John Kane
Separate But Equal 1991-04-07 Thurg

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